#stuffElliesays

Ellie: "Oh no. I think I've ruined my whole strategy."

They were playing Candyland.

#stuffElliesays

Ellie: "Mom, these swimsuits don't fit us anymore. Can we put them away for We-ye (Lily) and when she outgrows them we can send them to Aunt Reenie cos she is getting a baby!"

Family fun

We have Nana Evers and Nana Becky in town for a week and the kids have been loving the extra attention. We've also had some gorgeous weather and have been taking advantage!

Lily really wants to learn how to bicycle.

Theo chasing all the balls outside. He's a puppy, that one.

Annah brought us Valentine's day cookies! Everyone was a fan, especially the babies. Thank you Annah!

Nana snuggling a Lily.

Really not sure what was going on here, but it looked hilarious.

Scientist Ellie.

The babies drink from cups themselves now. And most of the water goes in them!

Not sure if serious....

Brother wants it, guess it's ok!

Watching videos of themselves.

Kids: the unsnoozeable alarm clocks.

#stuffAvysays

Avy: "I'm going to send a picture over my phone to my antelope."

I think she means aunt....

Weekend fun

I went outdoors to pick up the remaining snow toys. The babies were put out at being left behind.

Big sister Ellie helping Theo down the hallway.

Avy rocking the every-type-of-nerd look.

I was cooking and Lily asked to put on an apron too. Then she climbed up a chair herself and started drawing. She's growing up... :')

The girls asked to make brownies and after I agreed Ellie asked me, "Can we give them to our dance class friends?" Of course you can dear! And we made just enough for them each to have one, and their friends and siblings to have one too. None for Momma, yay!

Lily loves her new-found ability.

Big sisters are the best.

Theo doesn't hold still long enough for me to get many good pictures, but he was tickled pink over his ability to put the headband on himself.

Helping Mom cook. I'm just embracing the inevitable, really.

Joint bath! Worked pretty well actually.

Theo runs everywhere now and sometimes he has a hard time with momentum. Witness his first shiner, gotten by running around the corner of the table, sliding, and hitting his face on the corner of a chair. I'm sorry to say I laughed.

Helping Daddy prep the grill. The girls are scrubbing down the grates while the babies throw balls and generally enjoy the spring weather.

Yes Daddy!

So Katie, visiting us again when? ;)

#stuffAvysays

Avy: "Mom! I made up my bed and Ellie's bed! I was kind and ... refanciful."

Me: "Yes you were! ... Do you mean responsible?"

Avy: "Yes, refanciful. I helped my sister. I promise Mom, it's going to be a gooooood day."

And it has been :)

#stuffElliesays #humbleparentbrag

I made a smoothie with fruit, yogurt and nut butter to try to funnel more calories into the kids (Avy specifically but Ellie got some too). After a few sips:

Ellie: "I don't like this." (Avy is chugging hers)

Me: "Why not dear?"

Ellie: "It has too many fruits in it. It's not green enough."

Me: "... I'll add spinach to yours next time then..."

#stuffAvysays

She was playing with a little piano whose battery was dead.

Avy: "Mom! The piano isn't working anymore."

Me: "I know dear, we need to change the batteries."

I hear a thud, then:

Avy: "Mom! I smacked it against the floor with a lot of force and now it works!"

... and it did. Still don't want her doing tech support for me....

#stuffAvyandElliesay

Avy: "I was thinking of something."

Me: "Oh yea? What were you thinking of?"

Avy: "Of kittens."

Me: "Aw"

Avy: "That died."

Me: "Hmm."

Avy: "And of dinosaurs that ate kittens. And I thought of dogs."

Ellie: "That DIED!"

Snow Day!

Sunday late afternoon it started to snow, and by Monday morning we had a solid 8 inches on the ground. The girls were delighted, as was Momma ;) Snow day!

Crisp and pristine. Not once we got done with it!

"Mom! Can we go outside?" "Breakfast/chores first dears then oh heavens yes."

The hoard, getting ready for winter play.

Lily saw me put on a hat and promptly got one for herself too.

The little kids weren't sure what to make of it.

The big kids knew exactly what to do with it.

Lily kinda waded in on her knees. Unbeknownst to me, Theo had pulled off one of his boots right before going outside so he's stoically standing with one sopping wet foot.

This is the moment Lily realized snow is cold. She was never the same again.

Daddy attempting to go to work.

This was about as far as he got. Snow day for everyone!

After discovering the cold/wetness that is snow, neither baby really wanted to venture out past the dry area.

Daddy holding the silly babies.

Theo holding a snowball. Daddy may or may not be egging him on to throw it at Momma.

We're well embroiled in a snowball fight with some neighborhood kids at this point.

Our friend Nikki from down the way.

A well-earned bottle!

Round 2, backyard! Building a snow fort.

"Mom, can I have carrots for my snowman?" ... a few minutes later... "Avy, where'd your carrots go?" "I ate them!"

Ellie's many-nosed snowman.

By the evening the snow started to melt, and there's a decent crust of ice all over it now. We're supposed to get another couple inches tonight but then we return to rain. Still a great snow day!